1901-03-04 (158lbs) Tommy Ryan w rtd 17 (20) Tommy West, Southern AC Auditorium, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Referee: Tim Hurst. Billed as a title match at 158lbs, although some papers gave it as being at catchweights, the Chicago Tribune reported afterwards that Ryan had strengthened his claim to the world title on the result.

With both men said to be inside 157lbs, Ryan was sent to the floor twice in the second and looked all in at the bell. However, despite losing the next two rounds he came back strongly in the fifth. In the sixth Ryan’s right cheek was opened, and in the seventh West had his nose broken, his right eye closed, his forehead cut in two places and cheek split. For the next ten sessions Ryan played continually on West’s injuries, it being amazing that the latter was able to continue for as long as he did before his seconds eventually retired him at the end of the 17th.